Hire Workers in Serbia on the Unified Permit
Serbia sits outside the EU, which means none of the EU-preference rules apply and the route is genuinely open. We recruit from India, Nepal and Bangladesh into construction, industry and hospitality on the unified permit.
- Outside the EU, outside the EU preference rules
No EU labour supply test to clear. That is why Serbia moves.
One Permit, One Online Application
Serbia is not an EU member, and that single fact explains most of why it works. There is no obligation to demonstrate that an EU or EEA worker could have taken the post, which is the requirement that closes so much of Western Europe to volume manual hiring.
Since the reform of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on the Employment of Foreigners, Serbia issues a unified permit — jedinstvena dozvola — combining temporary residence and work authorisation in a single biometric card. It can be granted for up to three years and is renewable. The application is made online through the official Foreigners Portal, and is processed by the National Employment Service and the Ministry of Interior together with the employer.
The volumes tell you this is a working route rather than a theoretical one. Serbia issued more than 52,000 work permits to foreign nationals in 2024, with Indian and Nepali workers among the largest groups alongside Chinese, Turkish and Russian nationals. Serbian employers are used to this, and so are the authorities processing it.
The entry step is nationality-specific. Indian nationals must obtain a D visa before travelling, applied for at the Serbian consulate — for India that means the mission in New Delhi. We build that into the timeline from the start rather than discovering it at the end.
Who We Are
Hire Across Euro is an independent international recruitment consultancy with an active sourcing network across India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The founder runs every engagement personally, so a Serbian employer gets a route that is genuinely built for the headcount they are asking about.
What We Handle for Serbian Employers
Sourcing and Vetting
We shortlist workers whose training documents and work history stand up to consular scrutiny. Every file is checked for document completeness and practical competence before it reaches you.
- Document verification
- Trade competence check
Unified Permit Application
We prepare and lodge the unified permit application on the Foreigners Portal and manage it through the National Employment Service and Ministry of Interior stages.
- Foreigners Portal filing
- NES and MoI coordination
D Visa and Consular Steps
We manage the D visa application at the relevant Serbian consulate for nationalities that require one before travel, including Indian nationals applying in New Delhi.
Arrival and Onboarding
Workers are briefed on Serbian working-time rules and site safety expectations, and we support residence registration after arrival.
Sectors We Staff in Serbia
Four areas where Serbian employers are hiring foreign labour at scale.
Construction and Infrastructure
Masons, steel fixers, formwork carpenters and general site trades for major projects and contractors.
Manufacturing and Industry
Production operatives, machine minders and assembly staff for industrial plants and supplier sites.
Hospitality and Catering
Kitchen, service and housekeeping staff for hotels, restaurant groups and catering operators.
Logistics and Facilities
Warehouse operatives, drivers’ assistants, cleaning and facilities staff for services and distribution.
Hire Workers in Serbia: The Route at a Glance
Why a non-EU market is the straightforward one, and the single step employers underestimate.
| Why it is open | Serbia is outside the EU, so there is no obligation to show an EU or EEA worker could have taken the post — the test that closes most of Western Europe to volume manual hiring |
|---|---|
| The permit | The unified permit — jedinstvena dozvola — a single biometric card combining temporary residence and work authorisation |
| Duration | Up to three years, and renewable |
| How it is filed | Online through the official Foreigners Portal, processed by the National Employment Service and the Ministry of Interior alongside the employer |
| Entry step | Indian nationals need a D visa before travelling, applied for at the Serbian consulate — for India, the mission in New Delhi |
| Scale | More than 52,000 work permits issued to foreign nationals in 2024, with Indian and Nepali workers among the largest groups |
| Sectors | Construction and infrastructure, manufacturing and industry, hospitality and catering, logistics and facilities |
| Critical path | The consular D visa lead time, not the permit |
Why Serbia Works for Volume Hiring From South Asia
Employers who have spent a year being told no by Western European immigration systems tend to be suspicious when Serbia turns out to be straightforward. The reason it is straightforward is structural rather than lax: Serbia is outside the European Union, so it has no obligation to give preference to EU or EEA labour before admitting a third-country worker. That single absence removes the test that blocks most volume manual hiring elsewhere.
The permit is the unified permit, introduced when Serbia reformed its Law on Foreigners and Law on the Employment of Foreigners. It combines temporary residence and work authorisation on one biometric card, can run up to three years, and is renewable. Applications are lodged online through the Foreigners Portal and processed by the National Employment Service and the Ministry of Interior alongside the employer.
Scale is the best evidence that this functions. More than 52,000 work permits were issued to foreign nationals in 2024, with Indian and Nepali workers among the largest cohorts. Serbian construction, industry and hospitality have absorbed foreign labour through a period of heavy investment and significant domestic emigration, and the administrative machinery reflects that experience.
The one step employers routinely underestimate is the entry visa. Indian nationals need a D visa obtained before travel, applied for at the Serbian consulate, which for India means New Delhi. It is not difficult, but it has its own lead time and it sits on the critical path. Our live roles are on the vacancies board, our fee and treatment standards are set out in ethical recruitment compliant with EU labour law, and employers building a regional workforce usually also read Croatia, Romania and Hungary.
How the Process Works
Six steps from the first requirement call to workers on site in Serbia.
Requirement Call
We go through headcount, roles, worksite location, contract length and the start date you are working back from.
Shortlist
We present vetted workers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh or Pakistan with their training and work-history evidence attached.
Permit Filing
We lodge the unified permit application on the Foreigners Portal and manage it through to the biometric card.
Visa Application
We prepare the consular file and the employer-side documents your HR team is asked to produce, and track it to decision.
Arrival
We coordinate the D visa, travel and the first days in Serbia, including residence registration.
Onboarding
We support induction at the worksite and stay reachable through the first weeks of the placement.
Quick Answers
Why is Serbia more straightforward than EU countries?
Because it is not in the EU. There is no requirement to demonstrate that an EU or EEA worker could have filled the post, and that requirement is what closes most Western European markets to volume manual recruitment. The reason is structural, not lax enforcement.
What is the jedinstvena dozvola?
The unified permit: a single biometric card combining temporary residence and work authorisation, introduced when Serbia reformed its Law on Foreigners and Law on the Employment of Foreigners. It can be granted for up to three years, is renewable, and is applied for online through the Foreigners Portal.
What do employers usually underestimate?
The entry visa. Indian nationals must obtain a D visa before travelling, applied for at the Serbian consulate — for India that means New Delhi. It is not difficult, but it carries its own lead time and it sits on the critical path, so we build it into the schedule from the first call rather than discovering it at the end.
Official Sources and Further Reading
The unified permit is filed on the state Foreigners Portal and processed by two bodies. These are the official references.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Serbia easier than EU countries for this kind of hiring?
Because it is not in the EU. There is no requirement to show that an EU or EEA worker could have filled the post, and that requirement is what closes most Western European markets to volume manual recruitment.
What is the unified permit?
The jedinstvena dozvola — a single biometric card combining temporary residence and work authorisation. It can be granted for up to three years and is renewable, and it is applied for online through the Foreigners Portal.
Do Indian workers need a visa before travelling?
Yes. Indian nationals must obtain a D visa in advance at the Serbian consulate, which for India means the mission in New Delhi. It has its own lead time, so we build it into the schedule from the outset.
Is this actually a common route or a theoretical one?
Very common. Serbia issued over 52,000 work permits to foreign nationals in 2024, with Indian and Nepali workers among the largest groups. Employers and authorities alike are used to processing these.
How long can workers stay?
The unified permit can be granted for up to three years and is renewable, which makes Serbia one of the better markets for building a stable crew rather than rotating people through short placements.
Request Workers for Serbia
Tell us the roles, the headcount and the date you are working back from. A consultant replies within one business day with the route and what the file will take.
Talk to Us
If your sites in Serbia need workers from India, Nepal or Bangladesh, send us the requirement and a consultant replies within one business day with the route, the timeline and a quote.